Roger Andrew Taylor

The quiet one. The reluctant rocker. “Roger needs two hands for his!”

Born: April 26, 1960

Birthplace: Birmingham, England

Spouse: Gisella Bernales (since 2007), Giovanna Cantone (1984-2005)

Children: James, Ellea and Elliot (with Giovanna). Julian (with Gisella).

Grandchildren: Ariá Raine Miller, daughter of Ellea, born March 4th 2023

Bands: Duran Duran, Power Station, Arcadia, Scent Organs

DJ: In 2003, Roger began his DJ residency at London’s Met Bar

Roger Taylor is the drummer of the iconic British band Duran Duran. Born on April 26, 1960, in Birmingham, England, Taylor joined Duran Duran in 1979, shortly after the band was formed. His dynamic drumming style and solid rhythm have been an integral part of Duran Duran’s sound, contributing to their success and longevity in the music industry.

Roger grew up in Birmingham, UK. His early years were spent in the Shard End area of Birmingham, then later in Castle Bromwich. His father worked in the car industry, but young Roger’s heart was set on a different path – football. A devoted Aston Villa fan, he dreamt of being a goalkeeper for his favorite team. While his football aspirations didn’t quite pan out, his talent for drumming emerged around age 12. With no formal training, he taught himself by jamming along to his favorite records, honing a style that would later become iconic.

As a teenager, Roger played in various school and local bands, soaking up the punk scene at clubs like Barbarellas in Birmingham. His passion for music led him to form the new wave/punk band Scent Organs, which gained regional recognition. He even dabbled briefly in the post-punk scene with Cult Figures before fate intervened, and he joined Duran Duran in 1979.

In Duran Duran, Roger found his musical home. Known as “the quiet one” of the group, he often lets his drums do the talking.

Musical Influences

Roger’s musical influences range from punk and new wave to jazz and funk, giving him a unique and versatile approach to drumming. Influenced by drummers like Charlie Watts of The Rolling Stones and Budgie of Siouxsie and the Banshees, Roger’s drumming became a defining element of Duran Duran’s sound. His beats drove hits like “Hungry Like the Wolf” and “Rio,” solidifying his place as one of the era’s standout drummers.

That time he stepped away from the band

Roger’s drumming prowess powered the band through their first three studio albums and the electrifying live performances captured on “Arena.” In 1985, Duran Duran reached new heights with their theme song for the James Bond film “A View to a Kill,” rocketing to the top of the charts in the US. However, the relentless demands of recording and touring took a toll, and Taylor bid farewell to the band after their iconic performance at Live Aid in Philadelphia, witnessed by a staggering 2 billion viewers.

He collaborated with bandmates Simon Le Bon and Nick Rhodes on the side project Arcadia, crafting the mesmerizing album “So Red the Rose.” He also lent his percussion talents to The Power Station’s hit “Some Like It Hot.”

Seeking solace from the limelight, Taylor retreated to a secluded farm in Gloucestershire where he stayed mostly out of the spotlight. Although, in 1994, he briefly stepped in as their drummer for three tracks on the covers album Thank You.

Roger made his triumphant return to Duran Duran in 2001, reuniting with all five bandmates for new music and epic performances. The excitement peaked with five sold-out nights at Wembley Arena and a return to Madison Square Garden, marking a monumental comeback. They also inked a deal with Epic Records in New York, setting the stage for their comeback album, Astronaut, which featured the hit single “(Reach Up for The) Sunrise.” The band was back in the spotlight, and still at the top of their game.

Roger Taylor Interesting Facts

• In 2004, he was named Britain’s fifth most eligible bachelor in the UK high society magazine Tatler
• The Promise, by Arcadia, is one of his favorite songs: ‘[It’s] one of my favorite… that I’ve ever played on. I really love that song, and Dave Gilmour plays guitar on it. It had Sting on backing vocals. It was an epic song, and I think it’s really stood the test of time.’
• Trickiest Duran Duran song for drummers: ‘“Rio” is just such a fast song, and it’s always at the end of the live set. We’ve been playing for almost two hours, and that song comes along. It was written like we were on speed [chuckling].’

Roger’s son James Taylor was in a band with Andy Taylor’s son, Andy Jr. called Youthkills.

Roger Taylor Quotes

‘In the early days, we were very influenced by David Bowie and Roxy Music. There was a band in the UK called Japan that used sequences in their songs. We’re also fans of Ultravox and Kraftwerk. But then, Andy Taylor was a fan of AC/DC and all these different influences were coming into the studio. Somehow, it had its own life. It became very unique in itself. It was influenced by a lot of different people.’

‘It’s incredible. I can probably go to any hotel in the world and turn on one of the music channels and see “Hungry Like The Wolf” or whatever.’

‘[Producer] Mark Ronson had that idea that we shouldn’t be ashamed of ourselves. He said, “There’s so many bands out there that are copying you or citing you as an influence that you shouldn’t be ashamed to be who you are.’

‘I think people assumed that we were just a teen band that was just releasing these quite poppy singles. There was always what I call the dark side of Duran, and I think it took a few years for people to really appreciate that, that we had another side musically.’

‘Andy loved AC/DC, Nick wanted us to sound like Kraftwerk, John and I wanted to sound like Chic. So we just had this mash of different influences.’

On re-joining Duran Duran: ‘I got the call from John. He was sitting by the pool in LA with Nick and Simon. I told them I would sleep on it and call them back in 12 hours.’